Friendships are a key mechanic in Like a Dragon: Ishin! Forming a bond with an NPC and increasing your friendship with them will give you unique rewards. However, there are over 40 relationships waiting for you, and discovering each one of them can be troublesome.
Hopefully, IGN’s guide will tell you everything you need to know about friendships, including the locations of the NPCs, what you have to do, and the rewards you’ll get.
Friendships is a returning mechanic from other Yakuza titles. In it, you will meet NPCs with which you can form a bond. This bond will be represented in a gauge, and you’ll increase that bar by interacting with them or completing specific actions.
Between each interaction, you have to wait. How much time you need to wait is never explained, and it varies according to the NPC and what you’re doing. Sometimes, entering and exiting a restaurant will be enough to go back to an NPC and keep making progress with your new friend. Other times, you’ll have to fight random enemies, complete Substories, continue with the main story, pass time in Fushimi’s inn or in your second home, or do other actions. You’ll have to try what works best for your bond.
The progress you made with each Friendship carries on as you complete chapters. You can also check how much you have done in the Diligence Records menu.
When you complete a bond, you’ll receive a reward from that character or animal. In the case of the animals, you’ll be able to bring them to your house in Another Life. For more info about this, please check our How To Adopt Every Cat and Dog guide.
You'll also receive 1,500 Virtue each time you complete a Friendship, but we'll list the unique rewards you can earn.
Friendships
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
2
Northeastern Fushimi, in the right building behind the inn.
The NPC asks for wood, which you can cut in his minigame. While he'll ask for different quantities each time, always play the minigame until you reach 100 (the maximum).
After the second time you chop wood, you'll receive an Ancient Amulet. After the third one, a Broken Compass. The fourth and last time gifts you with receiving 150 Mon for each piece you cut instead of the original 100.
The NPC will give you packages that you have to deliver to different people in the city. He'll give you the indications, but note that the receiver won't be marked on the map.
You'll receive some money after doing each delivery, even after completing the bond.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
3
Multiple locations across the town. They are marked on your map.
Palanquins are your fast travel points. Just use them and you'll increase your gauge. However, there'll come a time when you'll be attacked by bandits. (This will be the eighth time you use the service). Defeat them and you'll complete this bond.
You'll unlock the Kamo River fast travel point in Rakugai.
After helping her once, she'll ask for two different healing items and one food each time you visit here. They are the following: an Ointment, an All-Purpose Medicine, and a Yokan.
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Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
East Rakugai, next to the Scarecrow school and northeast of the Mukurogai entrance.
He will ask for a specific sword three times. These are swords that you can craft at the blacksmith. You'll have to bring him an Ebony Sword, a Yaksha Blade, a Vulpecula, and a King of Beasts.
After showing him the King of Beasts, this enthusiast will gift you a Tunasmith.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
At the end of the chapter, you'll have to use the bridge on the east of Rakugai. The NPC will be in the new region.
As you did for the Substory, you'll need to bring him healing items each time you see him.
He will give you three different rewards: Sturdy Lumber, Thousand-Year Tree Branch, and Sacred Wood.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
East Rakugai, near William Bradley's school.
The Hungry Cat
You'll have to feed the little friend with marine food multiple times. At first, you can give it any fish, but for the last two, you'll need a Red Seabream and a Tuna.
You can adopt the Hungry Cat.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
Teramachi (southeastern Rakunai), north of the Gambling Den.
You have to give it a different amount of money in each interaction. (1,000 Mon, 2,000 Mon, 3,000 Mon, 5,000 Mon, 1 Ryo.) After the last one, you have to fight two enemies.
The rewards are as follows: no reward, a Sober Capsule, a Shunga, 4,000 Mon, and 5 Ryo. You'll be able to adopt it after the last one.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
South Umekojicho (the path between Fushimi and Rakugai).
Give him any vegetables you want until he asks you for a specific meal. You have to cook it in your second home.
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Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
Northwestern Rakunai, near the shrine and the shinto priest (after you have unlocked the priest's store).
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Interact with her multiple times.
Akari's Omosubi.
Friendships (Shops)
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
2
North Fushimi, near the gates to Rakugai.
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Play the karaoke minigame a couple of times. For the last one, you'll have to battle some enemies.
After defeating the NPCs, you'll receive a Phoenix Feather.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
2
In the center of Fushimi, one of the markets on the left.
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Eat in this pub multiple times. You'll have to select some options for the last interaction you have with the NPC ("No, it's fine" and "Water would taste better").
The first time you eat here, you'll receive a Doburoku. After selecting the correct options, you'll receive a Nada Refined Sake.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
2
In the center of Fushimi, one of the markets on the right.
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Buy vegetables from him a couple of times. For the last bit of gauge, he'll ask you for ten carrots. You can harvest this in your second home.
The first time you buy, he will gift you nine vegetables. After the carrots, you'll receive a Sturdy Lumber.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
3
West Rakugai, where there are markets, on the left.
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It's time to drink some tea multiple times.
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Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
3
North Rakunai, right to the palanquin.
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Eat some good sushi a couple of times.
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Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
3
East Rakunai, it's the left shop in the south of the market district.
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Purchase or sell items with this pawnbroker.
He'll gift you a Platinum Chunk.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
3
East Gion
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Eat in this restaurant a couple of times.
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Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
In the center of Fushimi, one of the markets on the left.
Work in the shop through a memory minigame a couple of times.
You'll earn 10% of the sales each time you work here.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
West Fushimi, one of the markets.
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Purchase things from this vendor until he talks about a mysterious man that tends to visit the shop. For your last interaction, you'll have to chase this suspicious figure.
After you catch the suspicious man, you'll receive a Crystal.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
Inside the ryotei Kasuga in Gion.
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Dine here until you need to defeat another customer.
You'll get a Fine Silk Fabric for your troubles.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
South Rakunai.
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"Play" Shogi a couple of times. You can actually start the match and quit it. It will still count for your progress.
Tear of the Dragon.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
Center of Rakunai. Near Don Quijote.
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Eat at the shop multiple times.
You'll be able to buy a new dish.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
The big store in the center of Rakunai.
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Purchase anything you want from the store multiple times. When you're about to complete the gauge, a lady will ask you for Rice Blaes (thinking you're a worker here). Leave the store and Ryoma will find them. Talk to the owner and you'll be done.
You'll receive a Gold Plate for your help.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
The big store in the center of Rakunai.
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Purchase anything you want from the store multiple times.
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Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
At the center of Rakugai, near the two bars.
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Watch some races a couple of times (you actually don't have to bet anything). You'll have interactions with the receptionist, who has money issues. For the last one, he'll ask you to choose a chicken, because he's going all-in. Select any you want — it will win.
He'll give you a Broken Compass.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
One of the restaurants on the east of Rakunai, just before the bridge.
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Have some fantastic food a couple of times until a competition starts. The three brothers will ask which one is your favorite dish. The answer doesn't matter.
Dance to any song you want multiple times. After a while, Maijo will ask you to dance to a specific song. You need to get a pass on that one to finish the bond.
Solid Wood.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
This one is on West Rakugai, almost in front of the Uji Tea store.
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Purchase anything any weapon or piece of equipment multiple times. At some point, he'll start asking questions, but it doesn't matter what option you choose.
After the last question, you'll receive a Dragon Fang and more items to buy.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
This store is in North Rakunai, west of the dancing school.
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Test his experimental medicines a couple of times (you'll lose HP each time).
You'll receive Longevity Pills, which you can also purchase from now on.
Chapter Available
Location
Substory
How to Increase Your Bond
Reward
4
This is a 'secret' store that doesn't appear on your map. You need to go to West Rakugai, between the water well and the Uji Tea store. Press the interaction button when near the place.